Some photos
Hi John
Your posting of those Italian campaign photos really brought back a lot of old memories for me. Especially the photo of Chit house crossing. During the advance that point received a lot of 88 attention. The term Chit often made me wonder whether it was a play on words or whether it was a code name. Certainly, the use of untastefull words really I would assume not be a priority in all the mud and shit and dying at this point in the war. For me the constant rain and mud seemed to be worse at times than enemy fire. But even under these conditions there is to be found a little humor. My section and I were in a forward position in a little town of San Tommaso north of Ortona were we had on our left flank the second Punjab’s of the tenth Indian division. Word came that the balance of our Christmas rations were available so I set out with a carrying party to bring up these goodies and our regular rations. It was late at night, and dark as hell, and on the way back we were returning on a road knee deep in mud when I dropped my portion, which contained the Christmas cake. I quickly picked it up and brushed off what mud I could off it and returned to a beat up house we had as our shelter. We shared this with an officer and several Punjab’s. I generously offered him a Canadian delicacy some Christmas cake which he in return offered me a portion of his native delicacy, roast lamb
Needless to say when no one was looking I quickly disposed of both my share of our cake and the lamb. PS: I hate MUTTON….
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